"Narrator Saul Reichlin delivers this true story of Abu Laith, the zookeeper of Mosul, Iraq...This is a triumph of humanity in the midst of adversity." -- AudioFile Magazine
Father of Lions is the powerful true story of the evacuation of the Mosul Zoo, featuring Abu Laith the zookeeper, Simba the lion cub, Lula the bear, and countless others, faithfully depicted by acclaimed, award-winning journalist Louise Callaghan in her trade publishing debut.
Combining a true-to-life narrative of humanity in the wake of war with the heartstring-tugging account of rescued animals, Father of Lions will appeal to audiences of bestsellers like The Zookeeper’s Wife and The Bookseller of Kabul as well as fans of true animal stories such as A Streetcat Named Bob, Marley and Me, and Finding Atticus.
“An unexpectedly funny and moving book. ... Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty, and why both humans and animals crave freedom.” -- Lindsey Hilsum, International Editor, Channel 4 News and author of In Extremis: the life of war correspondent Marie Colvin.
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“A detailed and nuanced account of life in an ISIS-controlled corner of Iraq. The well-researched narrative builds a powerful finale after Mosul has been liberated and an Indiana Jones–like Egyptian veterinarian named Dr. Amir takes an interest in the zoo. Callaghan’s intense story of saving a zoo serves as a human look at life in a war-torn city.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Callaghan knows her way around a war. Her portrayal of a city under siege is many-layered and brilliantly told.”
— Sunday Times (London)"Powerful and equally inspirational…Outstanding.”
— Psychology Today“While Abu Laith does his best to keep animals safe and healthy, he cannot always succeed against the violence inflicted on his city. Just when things seem to be truly hopeless, an international animal rescue operation brings assistance.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)“An engaging yet heartbreaking narrative that reads like fiction.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Narrator Saul Reichlin[’s]…accurate pronunciation of Arab names of cities and people adds to this listening experience…Reichlin uses a gruff, masculine timbre for Abu Laith’s dialogue and gives us a sense of this no- nonsense yet deeply caring man…This is a triumph of humanity in the midst of adversity.”
— AudioFileBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Louise Callaghan is one of the youngest foreign correspondents ever hired by the Sunday Times (UK). She made Forbes' Europe 30 under 30 in media 2018 list, has won the Marie Colvin Award for British Journalism, and young reporter of the year at the 2016 British Press Awards and the 2017 British Journalism Awards.
She's been featured in The Sunday Times Magazine, Vogue, Wired, Newsweek, the Times Literary Supplement and more. Father of Lions is her first book.
Saul Reichlin is a narrator, actor, producer, and director. He has lent his voice to more than fifty television documentaries.